China and Portuguese-speaking countries hope for closer ties: Li

Premier Li Keqiang delivers a key-note speech at the opening ceremony of the 5th Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, Macao, Oct 11, 2016. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

China and Portuguese-speaking countries will set an example of friendly exchanges between nations, Premier Li Keqiang said on Tuesday.

China and Portuguese-speaking countries account for 17 percent of the world's economic output and 22 percent of global population, and their mutual interests and need of mutual support are increasing, Li said at the opening ceremony of the fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries held in Macao.

Talking about cooperation on industrial production capacity between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, Li said it is complementary and mutually beneficial.

China and Portugal have cooperated successfully in other Portuguese-speaking markets, said the Premier, adding that he hopes such cooperation could be introduced to more regions.

During the forum, a memorandum will be signed to promote capacity cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

The Premier said that China will encourage more imports from Portuguese-speaking countries and will exempt some nations from tariffs on 97 percent of taxable items.

Trade between China and Portuguese-speaking countries amounted to $100 billion last year.

China is ready to list more member countries of the forum as destinations for outbound group tours for Chinese citizens, according to Li.

China will offer aid and preferential loans worth 4 billion yuan (around $600 million) to Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa and Asia in the next three years, according to Xinhua.

The event, also known as the Macao Forum, kicked off on Tuesday and ends on Wednesday.

Hundreds of delegates from seven Portuguese-speaking countries, Portugal, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Angola and East Timor, attended the event.